1883- Report of Roderick McDonald, Indian Agent, Pictou County

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1883- Report of Roderick McDonald, Indian Agent, Pictou County

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Titles	1883- Report of Roderick McDonald, Indian Agent, Pictou County:
Name	Rev. Roderick McDonald (Indian Agent)
Name
Type of Resource	text
Genre	Annual Report
Abstract	Letter written by Indian Agent Roderick McDonald reporting on the Mi'kmaq of Pictou Landing. Mentions of industry, farming, alcohol consumption, and the school.
Form	text
Note	PICTOU, N.S., 27th August, 1883. The Right Honorable The Superintendent-General of Indian Affairs, Ottawa. SIR, - With the tabular statement for the year ended 30th June, I have the honor to transmit to you my Report upon Indian affairs in district No. 8. It is difficult to add anything new to the many reports that have already been transmitted to your Department. A glance at the tabular statement will show that the death list has exceeded that of births. Consumption is the prevailing disease among the Indians, owing to the fact of its being hereditary in some families; to frequent exposure to wet and cold; to insufficiency of clothing during the cold weather, and to want of proper attendance and nourishing diet in the incipiency of the disease. A slight departure from primitive habits is noticeable, for not a few may be seen employed at the coal wharves, at the local tanneries, at the steel works, and other employments. This may be a circumstance of necessity, for the Indian has no relish for hard work. The other remunerative employments in which they engage are fishing in the summer season; coopering and making pick handles for the coal mines in the winter. Notwithstanding the difficulties in this way they are gradually imbibing a taste cultivating the soil. Were it not for the encouragement given by the Government by way of money grants very few would sow or plant. The two hundred acres, with the exception of thirty given to the Indians for the purpose of farming, are stoney and covered with woods. They lack courage and perseverance to clear such land and render it fit for cropping. This is the reason why no more than a few patches are taken in each year. Another difficulty also standing in the way, is the want of fertilizers. Kelp is the only available fertilizer, and as it does not drift ashore in sufficient quantities the seeds must largely be entrusted to the native producing qualities of the soil, which of necessity will soon be exhausted. It is almost impossible to enforce the Act of Parliament forbidding the sale of liquors to Indians. The sellers are always on their guard, and the Indian will never act as an informer. With the co-operation of the chief and the captains, I administered the total abstinence pledge to them all, both men and women. With the majority sobriety is a prevailing virtue. The school is taught by miss Jollymore at Indian Cove is somewhat insufficient for want of proper attendance by the pupils. This is owing in a great measure to indifference on the part of the parents and to their Wandering habits during the summer season. I have the honor to be, Sir, Your obedient servant. RODERICK McDONALD, Indian Agent.
Note	Annual Report of the Department of Indian Affairs for the Year Ended 31st December, 1883 (Ottawa: Dominion of Canada, 1884), 24-25.